Across the Rows on The Armagh Polka

[David Levine]

I posted a clip of the Armagh Polka (aka John Ryan's) played very slowly on a C/G Wheatstone Anglo.

It might be useful for somebody learning to play across the rows in the key of D.

 

 

The fingering closely follows Noel Hill's Method. However, the Wheatstone, unlike the Jeffries, does not have a draw C# on the RH accidental row (like the Jackie and the Stagi).

In any case, I use the LH B press for the triplet (B,C#,D) that follows the trumpeted D D that starts the tune and the LH draw B the rest of the time.

Edited February 21, 2009 by David Levine

[Fergus_fiddler]

I play this tune in the same way, but having a Jeffries layout in my instrument, I use the 2nd button C# in the Acc. RH row. Otherwise, I'll be incurring in 'chopping'

 

Nice video, tough.

 

Cheers,

 

Fer

[PaddyLosty]

Thanks for this! Im just starting to venture into D and this is quite helpful. Im glad to see that the fingering I chose for this tune intuitively is correct.

[tombilly]

Sometimes that opening d is emphasised and if you play it on the right hand, you can double note with the low D on the left. It also balances out the work between the hands.

[Baxter]

That's pretty close to what I do, too, except that I use the push low D on the left to smooth out the end of the descending phrase A F# E D. I also double the D using the left hand push notes instead of the draw - I have Wheatstone layout and it's really hard the other way.

[David Levine]

Re: the Wheatstone layout -- I switched the G & A reeds (on the second button in on the right hand accidental row) for C# and D# reeds. This has made life a bit easier for me. A fuller discussion in posted to the Instrument Construction and Repair forum.